A man has a one in seven chance of developing prostate cancer during his lifetime. Men die at a higher rate from prostate cancer than women die from breast cancer in Arkansas.
Rogers, AR, September 2, 2015 (Newswire.com) - The Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation (APCF) will host a free prostate cancer education and screening event on September 29 at Highlands Oncology Group, located at 808 S. 52ndSt. in Rogers, Ark from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event is a collaboration between Highlands Oncology Group and APCF.
Men between the ages of 45 and 70 are encouraged to take advantage of the free, preventative health care services, which will include a discussion on risk and benefits of screening, a blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and a physical exam of the prostate. The physical exam of the prostate is optional. Men with a family history of prostate cancer and men that are African-American are in high-risk populations for prostate cancer.
APCF Executive Director Beverlyn Eckert said “men will want to be educated about their risk and options regarding screening and treatment. Men who have a father, brother or son diagnosed with prostate cancer have a higher risk of diagnosis themselves.
“It’s important to know men can decrease the risk of prostate cancer by practicing healthy lifestyle choices,” she said.
According to the Arkansas Central Cancer Registry, approximately 2,000 men in Arkansas will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and 300 men will die from the disease. Men in Arkansas die at a higher rate from prostate cancer than women die from breast cancer. In many cases, Eckert said timely detection is the best opportunity to preserve life and quality of life.
“Should a screening result in a diagnosis of prostate cancer, APCF is here to help with understanding the disease and treatment, finding resources, learning what to expect and how to deal with challenges,” she said. “We have a legion of men and women who have weathered this storm, ready to help those who are newly diagnosed.”
Eckert said she encourages men to establish a baseline PSA score and watch for PSA Velocity, which is the amount and rate a PSA score rises from year-to-year. APCF staff will be available to answer questions and help men determine whether screening is right for them.
For more information about the event and to register, men can call Courtney Trevillion at (479) 544-0581 or email cpeachey@hogonc.com.
About the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation
Six prostate cancer survivors and an advisory committee of physicians founded the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, an independent public charity, in February 2000. The Foundation’s mission is to promote awareness, encourage timely detection and support improved treatment of prostate cancer in Arkansas. The Foundation sponsors free prostate cancer information and screening throughout the state, and provides emotional and decision support through its Peer Network and Patient Navigation programs. For more information, visit www.arprostatecancer.org or call toll-free at 1-800-338-1383.
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